Appeal for witnesses after horse collides with car in Darlington

POLICE investigating a collision between a car and a horse have appealed to the driver of a red Audi to come forward.

The horse, which had thrown its rider while being ridden on the footpath, ran into Neasham Road, near the Darlington Arena, at 11am today (Friday, January 31) and collided with a Vauxhall Astra.

The rider, a woman in her 20s, was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital with minor injuries, while the driver of the Astra, a man aged 79, and his passenger, a woman in her 70s, were also taken to hospital as a precaution suffering from shock.

The horse suffered minor injuries and is expected to make a full recovery.

Police are appealing for the driver of a red Audi, which was driving out of Darlington at the time of the incident, to come forward.

PC Ruth Barrett, from Durham Police’s roads policing unit, said: "We are appealing to the driver of a red Audi A3 to come forward as we believe this person may have vital information regarding the circumstances of the collision."

Anyone with information or witnesses to the collision are asked to call the roads policing unit on the non-emergency 101 number.

Driving on the A690 yesterday and came across 2 'kids' on horses that they had no hope of controlling. One of them swung into the road from the pavement and made me swerve....and yes, I was slow in 3rd gear.

Not the first time horses on paths have suddenly had a change of plan. Unpredictable beasts. Inexperienced idiots on them.

But of course, if I'd clipped one of them, it would have been my fault eh?

No time for horses and roads....or should I say 'horse-riders (who have a choice of how to get from a-b) who simply don't give a stuff about the drivers.

Do these horsey folk actually HAVE insurance themselves? Honest question. Does anyone know?

Driving on the A690 yesterday and came across 2 'kids' on horses that they had no hope of controlling. One of them swung into the road from the pavement and made me swerve....and yes, I was slow in 3rd gear.
Not the first time horses on paths have suddenly had a change of plan. Unpredictable beasts. Inexperienced idiots on them.
But of course, if I'd clipped one of them, it would have been my fault eh?
No time for horses and roads....or should I say 'horse-riders (who have a choice of how to get from a-b) who simply don't give a stuff about the drivers.
Do these horsey folk actually HAVE insurance themselves? Honest question. Does anyone know?Copley23

It is illegal to ride or even lead a horses on any public footpath unless it is defined as a bridleway, although illegal and irresponsible no one seems to care, police just drive past without a word.

It is illegal to ride or even lead a horses on any public footpath unless it is defined as a bridleway, although illegal and irresponsible no one seems to care, police just drive past without a word.Spennysue

Copley23 wrote:
Driving on the A690 yesterday and came across 2 'kids' on horses that they had no hope of controlling. One of them swung into the road from the pavement and made me swerve....and yes, I was slow in 3rd gear.

Not the first time horses on paths have suddenly had a change of plan. Unpredictable beasts. Inexperienced idiots on them.

But of course, if I'd clipped one of them, it would have been my fault eh?

No time for horses and roads....or should I say 'horse-riders (who have a choice of how to get from a-b) who simply don't give a stuff about the drivers.

Do these horsey folk actually HAVE insurance themselves? Honest question. Does anyone know?

Responsible horse owners will insure their horses,much the same as a car except its not obligatory. You insure for loss through accident, illness which results in the horse having to be put down, public liability and theft. Responsible riders ride in a manner that does not impede traffic and thank people for slowing down when passing and riders have every right to be on the road, just as push bikes do. However, there are a lot of irresponsible and sometimes downright ignorant riders and horse owners but please don't put everyone in the same boat -would you put all drivers in the same boat? Believe me it is in any drivers interest to pass any horse slowly and carefully considering what a 600kilo horse would do to your precious motor should it collide with you. riding on the roads is not a choice for riders - its a must, as a lot of Bridleways have been closed or overgrown -given the choice I would much rather ride along an off-road bridleway in safety -perhaps copley23 can persuade Teesdale council to construct some, then me and fellow riders who have to ride around copley, butterknowle and Southside can do it in relative safety?? Horses have been using roads a lot longer than cars -around 900 years..........

[quote][p][bold]Copley23[/bold] wrote:
Driving on the A690 yesterday and came across 2 'kids' on horses that they had no hope of controlling. One of them swung into the road from the pavement and made me swerve....and yes, I was slow in 3rd gear.
Not the first time horses on paths have suddenly had a change of plan. Unpredictable beasts. Inexperienced idiots on them.
But of course, if I'd clipped one of them, it would have been my fault eh?
No time for horses and roads....or should I say 'horse-riders (who have a choice of how to get from a-b) who simply don't give a stuff about the drivers.
Do these horsey folk actually HAVE insurance themselves? Honest question. Does anyone know?[/p][/quote]Responsible horse owners will insure their horses,much the same as a car except its not obligatory. You insure for loss through accident, illness which results in the horse having to be put down, public liability and theft. Responsible riders ride in a manner that does not impede traffic and thank people for slowing down when passing and riders have every right to be on the road, just as push bikes do. However, there are a lot of irresponsible and sometimes downright ignorant riders and horse owners but please don't put everyone in the same boat -would you put all drivers in the same boat? Believe me it is in any drivers interest to pass any horse slowly and carefully considering what a 600kilo horse would do to your precious motor should it collide with you. riding on the roads is not a choice for riders - its a must, as a lot of Bridleways have been closed or overgrown -given the choice I would much rather ride along an off-road bridleway in safety -perhaps copley23 can persuade Teesdale council to construct some, then me and fellow riders who have to ride around copley, butterknowle and Southside can do it in relative safety?? Horses have been using roads a lot longer than cars -around 900 years..........kristal27